Springfield, Illinois – The Springfield Jr. Blues, proud members of the North American Hockey League, are pleased to announce that Dryden McKay has earned the College Hockey News’ 2018-19 Rookie of the Year Award!
McKay helped the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks to the WCHA Championship behind a 24-6-2 record with a 1.66 GAA and a .931 SV%. He led all freshman goaltenders this season in wins, goals-against average, save percentage, and shutouts. He ranks second in GAA, fifth in SV%, third in win percentage, and fourth in wins among all Division 1 goaltenders as well.
Along with fellow Jr. Blues alumni in Tommy Nappier and Stefanos Lekkas, McKay was named one of ten semi-finalists for the Mike Richter Award which will be handed out during the Frozen Four. McKay is a five time WCHA Goaltender of the Week and was named the HC Goaltender of the Month for February, while also garnering WCHA Goaltending Champion honors after turning in the league’s best goals against average for the year (1.36 GAA in 22 GP).
Minnesota State (32-7-2), which captured the 2018-19 WCHA regular-season title and the WCHA postseason tournament title this year, is headed to the NCAA East Regional this weekend, where it will play a first-round game against Providence Saturday. McKay, a native of Downers Grove, Ill., is the third goalie to win CHN’s Rookie of the Year honor, following Jon Gillies (2013) and Richard Bachman (2008).
